Cesc Fabregas made a scoring return from injury as Arsenal stayed
on the heels of Chelsea and Manchester United at the top of the
Premier League with a 2-0 victory at Bolton on Sunday.
The Gunners captain, who had missed three matches with a
hamstring problem, nettted his 10th league goal of the season in
the 28th minute, while Fran Merida sealed the victory with a late
strike.
"It's always a difficult place to go, we know what we'll get
at Bolton, but we coped with it well and we're proud of that," the
22-year-old Fabregas said. "When I was younger the chances were not
going in, but now they are and I hope it continues until the end of
the season. I feel stronger and that helps."
Arsenal is third in standings after playing 21 games, but can
go top by beating Bolton by the same scoreline when they meet again
on Wednesday, at the Emirates stadium. Chelsea, which has also
played 21 games, leads Manchester United by one point and is three
ahead of Arsenal.
Bolton remains in the relegation zone, but West Ham climbed
out of the bottom three on Sunday with a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa
and Blackburn moved up to 12th by beating Fulham 2-0.
At the Reebok Stadium, Arsenal had to soak up sustained early
pressure as Bolton impressed in Owen Coyle's his first match in
charge.
But when Gretar Steinsson slipped on the edge of the penalty
area, handing possession to Fabregas. The Spain international
quickly exchanged passes with Eduardo da Silva before slotting a
low shot past Jussi Jaaskelainen's outstretched right hand.
Fabregas had been quiet after the break but he still set up
the second goal in the 78th. His surging run into the penalty area
allowed Eduardo to cross to the far post where Merida side-footed
home.
At Ewood Park, Blackburn won for the first time since
November to move five points above the drop zone.
"It is a big, big win - it is well-deserved and one that will
take the pressure off us," Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce said.
"The performance was nice but it was all about the result today and
we're pleased to get the victory."
Chris Samba deflected home an attempted clearance by former
Blackburn player Damien Duff in the 25th after Benni McCarthy's
corner caused havoc in the Fulham penalty area. Blackburn captain
Ryan Nelsen headed in another nine minutes after halftime.
Fulham threatened little, with the best effort coming from
Clint Dempsey's overhead kick which struck the bar in the 36th. But
the American forward, Fulham's main source of inspiration, limped
off after falling in the 62nd.
"The initial prognosis for Clint is not good," Fulham manager
Roy Hodgson said. "It looks like cruciate knee ligament damage and
if it is it will keep him out for a while."
Aston Villa failed to break down an injury-hit West Ham, with
Martin O'Neill's side lacking any significant threat and now in
sixth place, two points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with an
inferior goal difference.
West Ham, which moved out of the relegation zone on goal
difference with the point, had been unable to field a single
experienced striker because of injuries to Carlton Cole, Zavon
Hines and Guillermo Franco.
The 18-year-old Frank Nouble was given the goalscoring
responsibilities on his first league start and came close to
scoring inside six minutes. Nouble burst forward from the halfway
line and shook off two challenges, but sent his shot over the bar
with only Brad Friedel to beat.
"Away from home it's a good result," West Ham captain Matthew
Upson said. "We're improving. We've had some really tight games
against some top teams.
"The last few months we've had an improvement. Hopefully we
can maintain that to the end of the season."
There was a lack of inspiration about Villa's play until
midway through the first half when West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green
was tested for the first time, tipping away Ashley Young's shot at
full stretch.
Green excelled again by turning aside a fierce shot on the
turn from Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Villa had more chances after the break, James Milner clipping
the outside of the post and James Collins volleying wide from 20
meters (yards), while John Carew had the ball in the net in the
61st minute but the strike was ruled out for offside.
